Portable elevator.



No. 638,954. Patented Dec. I2, |899. H. H. CARR.

i PORTABLE ELEVATDH.

(Application fud me. u, 169s.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet ll.

i lrjcagior No. 638,954. Patented Dec. l2, |899.

H. H. CARR.

PORTABLE ELEVATOB.

(Application filed Dec. 5, 189B.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N0 Model.)

v wihjesses No. 638,954. Patented Dec. l2, |899.

H'. H. CARB.

PORTABLE ELEVATOR.

(Application med De. 5, 189s.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3..

No. 638,954. Patented nec. |21, |899.

- H. H. CARR.

PORTABLE ELEVATUR.

' (Application led De. 5, 189B.) (No Model.) 4 Sheeis-Sheet 4 WihjassasInf/legion Arnim trims.

HENRY H. CARR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PORTABLE ELEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,954, dated December12, 1899. i Application filed December 5, 1898. Serial No. 698.327. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern.-

Be itknown thatI, HENRY H. CARR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveiuven ted a new and useful Portable Elevator, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to a portable elevator andloader for theexpeditious and economical handling of grain, seeds, and groundsubstances, as well as for other materials in bulk; and it is moreparticularly designed for transferring grain from wagons into bins orother` receptacles, or from wagons into grain-cars, or vice versa,whereby the manual labor inseparable from the slow and expensive way ofshovelng by hand is obviated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable elevatorwhich may be folded compactly upon the power mechanism to render theapparatus portable bodily from one place to another, and thisfoldable-elevator mechanism and the power mechanism for driving theoperative elements thereof are combined together in such a manner thatthe elevatorl may be folded Without disconnecting the power-transmittingappliances, thus making provision for the expeditious adjustment of theelevator into operative position for service.

A further object of the invention is, in the preferred embodimentthereof, to arrange the supporting and driving means for the elevator ina manner to secure freedom in the rotation of the driving-shaft and easyswinging adjustment of the foldable elevator without friction or bindingon either the shaft or the elevator pivotal devices,notwithstandin gthat the driving-shaft constitutes the axis of adjustment to theelevator.

Vith these ends in view the invention consists in the rnovel combinationof mechanisms and in the construction and arrangement of parts, whichwill be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, the preferred embodimentthereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a parthereof, and in which-- Figure l is a side elevation illustrating thepreferred construction of the elevator in its working position, thedotted line showing the elevator folded coiupactly upon the powermechanism. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus represented byFig. l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged det-ail sectional View on the planeindicated by the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. l, shown ing the counter-shaftand pivotal shaft for the elevator and the means by which the elevatorboot or casing is pivotally hung concentric with the counter-shaft. Fig.4 is a detail perspective view of parts of the device shown byFig. 3 forpivotallysupporting the elevator boot or casing. Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of another embodiment of the portable apparatus, and Fig. 6 isa front elevation of the structure shownby Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 aredetail sectional elevations of modified types of lthe endless elevatorwithin a boot or casing.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in eachof the several iigures of the drawings.

In carrying the invention into practice, a portable frame or truck 10 isprovided for the power mechanism and to sustain the elevator mechanismin its upright operative position, as well as in the folded inoperativeposition. This'portableframe or truck is supported by wheeled axles ll,and as one means for moving the apparatus from one place to another thetruck isequipped with a draft-tongue 12, to which a team may be hitched.This portable apparatus (represented by the accompanying drawings)embraces a powerI mechanism which is represented as embodied in astructure known to those familiar in the art as a treadmill, adapted foroperation. by horsepower; but in its broad aspect the invention is notrestricted to this particular type of power mechanism, because it isevident that a skilled mechanic in embodying the invention may employequivalent power mechanisms, such as a horse-power sweep, an electricmotor, a gasolene-en gine, or other motivepower apparatus. Themotive-powermechanism is mounted on or carried by the portable truck forthe purpose, primarily, of furnishing the power for operating theelevator and the other mechanisms which enter into the construction ofthe apparatus in its entirety; but, as will be evident to a skilledmechanic, the motive-power mechanism may, if desired, embody devices forthe propulsion of the entire apparatus bodily from one place IOO toanother in a manner similar to a traction-engine, thus dispensing withthe drafttongue 12.

The power mechanism, in the form of a treadmill,em braces an endlesstraveling platform, consisting of a series of slats or bars iiexiblyjoined together and provided with antifriction-rolls 14, arranged toride on suitable guide-tracks 15,which are supported in fixed positionson the frame of the treadmill. One end of the endless traveling platformis supported by an idle drum 1G on a shaft 17, which is mounted inproper bearings on the frame or truck of the apparatus, and at its otherend the traveling platform passes around the Idriving-drum 18 in amanncrto actuate the latter. This drivingdrum is mounted on a shaft 1-9, whichis journaled in proper bearings on the frame or truck, and on this shaft19 is secured a member of the gear by which the power is transmitted tothe elevator mechanism to drive the latter. The horse or other animalrequired for the operation of the treadmill is enabled to ascend theretoor descend from the traveling platform by means of the inclined platform20, one end of which is suitably connected to the frame or truck, whileits opposite end rests upon the ground or on the wheels. A

The elevator mechanism is disposed at one end of the motive-powermechanism, and this elevator mechanism is hung or pivoted on ahorizontal axis, so that in operative position the elevator is uprightor vertical; but when the apparatus is to be transported the elevatormechanism is folded to a horizontal position upon the motive -powermechanism, whereby all the parts of the apparatus are disposed compactlyfor convenience in transportation. This elevator mechanism is equippedwith a boot or casing, which in its entirety is indicated by the numeral21, and this boot or casing comprises a receiving-foot 22, a head 23,and inclined legsor members, which are joined firmly to the foot orhead, so as to make the structure present a substantial rigidappearance. The elevator proper is in the form of an endless belt or apair of linked chains 24, which are equipped with buckets or flights ofany suitable pattern known to those skilled in the art, and this endlesselevator is operatively7 arranged within the legs, the foot or head ofthe elevator-casing to travel therein. The endless elevator passes overan idle shaft 25, journaled in proper bearings Within the head 23, andthis shaft has pulleys or sprocket-wheels 26 to accommodate the belt orchain 24. The endless belt or chain also passes around pulleys orsprockets 28 on the elevator drivingshaft 27, which is journaled inproper bearings at the foot 22, and one end of this shaft 27 is extendedbeyond the foot of the boot for the reception of a gear element, bywhich the shaft 27 may be rotated for the propulsion of the endlesselevator. y

The shaft 19, which is driven by the motive-power mechanism, is equippedwith a mastergear 29, from which the poweris taken for transmission tothe endless elevator, and in the preferred embodiment of this inventionthe power-transmission gearing embraces as one element thereof acounter-shaft 30, which serves as the axis of movement for the elevatormechanism in adjusting the latter to its folded and unfolded positions.

The elevator boot or casing 21 is equipped at a point intermediate ofits length with a yoke 31, which is arranged to embrace one leg ormember of said elevator boot-and is firmly secured thereto by anyapproved means. This yokehas its ends extended or projected into thespace between the legs or members of the boot or casing, and theextended ends of said yoke are formed with eyes or openings 32. Atubular pivotal shaft 33 passes through the eyes or openings of theyoke, and this shaft 33 has its ends threaded exteriorly, as at 34. (SeeFigs. 3 and 4.) An upright frame 48 is secured firmly to the portabletruck or frame, and to this frame is firmly secured the ends of angularbraces 35, and these braces are provided at points intermediate of theirlengths with openings 36, which are coincident with the openings 32 ofthe yoke, so as to permit the threaded ends 34 of the tubular pivotalshaft 33 to pass through said openings in the angularbraces. The pivotalshaft and the braces are united firmly together by means of the nuts 37,which are screwed on the threaded ends 34 of the shaft and bear againstthe braces 35, and the ends of the yoke and the sides of the braces arespaced relatively to each other by means of Washers 38, which are fittedon the tubular pivotal shaft and are interposed between the braces andthe yoke, whereby the elevator boot or casing may turn freely in avertical plane on its pivotal connection with the inclined fixed frame.To prevent the arms of the yoke 31 from collapsing or bending under theweight of the elevator-boot, a bracesleeve 39 is fitted loosely on thepivotal shaft 33, so as to engage with the ends of the yoke 31. Thecounter shaft 30 passes loosely through and is journaled for rotationfreely in the pivotal shaft,which, it will be observed, has its endsextended to open through the braces 35, and at one end this shaft 30 isprovided with a sprocket wheel or pulley 40, which is connected by anendless chain or belt 41 with the master gear or pulley 29 on the shaft19, which is actuated by the motivepower mechanism. This shaft 30 isalso provided With a sprocket Wheel or pulley 42, which is connected bya chain or belt 43 to the sprocket wheel or pulley 44 on thedriving-shaft 27 of the elevator, and thus the counter-shaf t 30 isoperatively connected with the shaft 19 and with the shaft 27 for thepurpose of transmitting the motion of the motivepower mechanism to theendless elevator.

It will be observed that the elevator boot or casing is pivotallysupported by devices IIO 1o l isms .to the elevnior driving-shaft ALILwhich lare eoneentrie with the axle of the eo1intei-el1oi:`t 3G, findthat this counter-shalt constitutes one element of the transmittingineolnmism between the power mechanism :nid theelevntor drivingelmlft,and by thus -eonibining :ind inmenging the several meeh- :minnie theelevntor boot or easing is free to z l trice from its folded position toitel operative swing on n horizontal axis in foldingl or nn- `foldingthesaine without slaekening the gear eonneetione from the niotive-powernreehnnor without throwing the trensniittiiig-gearing ont of :tetiverelation to the elevator 'or the power mechanism whereby the elevatornieehnnism may be easily ond quickly z'tdjusted iforserv position. Atthe seine time the Swingingndm guet nient ofthe el voter may be elleeted wi thA ont binding the oonnter-elnift or the tribu cin the praetionlservice thereof. i nienioern of the elevzttorboot by the orosei-braces47, wliieh :ire properly ler pivotal shaft, thus redueing friction andVweer on these elementi',` to n Ininiinuin.

The drivingelintt 2 for the endlose elevator ie mounted in slidoblebearings 5, ooniieeted to the loot of the boot or eneing 2l, `and `tothese bearings are connected the ndlooting-screws 4G, whieh are properlysnpported on the foot 22 for the purpose of tolt- ,thno maintaining theletter in n tout oondition to secure maximum eilieionoy The legey or maybe Stayed l eeenred to the boot or entering.

idole truel; or

- hinged to the lower l is one embodiment of this `shown ne Consistinget :L bloot; or

The elevator is mounted or hung' on the Substantial freine 4S, whieh is:arranged in :in :inclined position with relation to the portfranie l0,and this inelined frame is solidly secured to the truck-frame and bracedby Suitable Stn-ys to molte it very substantiel for supporting theweight of the boot or easing and its contained ports. 'llie upper end ofthe fixed. inclined freine 8 is o hoisting-tackle for Convenientlymoving the freine to its hori :contnl or upright. positions, techie itis shezive if), properly nttnohed to ille heed of the boot or easing,another bloei; or ehenve o0, eonneeted to the upper extremity of theine-lined t'rznne,

'and nn operating-crible 5l, which ie reeved :ofA seid enble beingadapted for `:t cient or other suite/ble device to innintnin y zihe bootor cosine;l

theA rope in drown througlrthe blorlio bloelis or sheaves ond is led orConducted down to the. ground within vom venient roneh oti theattendant, the iree end Fastening lo :against tilting` when it is in onupright position. ily hinging` the un lperend of: the irnine so :is toswing tothe rear it 'cnn be folded down subetnntialiy even with theChute7 nskshown in dotted lines in "Figa l, after the ehiie has beenlowered to its w horizonlnl position.

`When it is desired to elevate the chute, the-hinged portion of thefreine 1s Swung' into its elevated position and portion :nid equippedwith shez'wes of the 'hoisting-techie until the chute has been drowninto its desired. position. The loention ot' the hinge upon the reni'eide of the lrnmowili prevent the upper portion i'roni swinging' forwardof n Straight line with the lower portion ot' the ironie;

A flexible .opent or chute is :ittnehed to the heed 2S of theelev'zttoilloot, und this ehnte moy be corri ed into n oer for conveyingthe groin ihfn'eto. i

AS one ineens for Supplying' the gro-in to the elevatore stationeryfeeder 523 is arranged Contiguous to the foot 22 oi' the elevator, andthis feeder han :in inclined bottoni 5Zl.,whieh delivers the graindirectly to n suitable openine` in one .eide ol' snid toot 22 of theelevator easing, :te shown by linge. l! and i. fWhen the feeder ieeinpllliyed in eonneotionwith the elevator, the grain may be dischargedinto the feeder direetly from L wegen or other vehicle, sind this feederoperntee to supply the grain automatically to tlie'olevetor to be mirennp by the bueltels or flights thereof".

A, winch. or drum iti is mounted on the ioldnble elevntooboot nud ledriven by snit-- ztbloeonneetionn with the motive-power meehnnisni. Thiswinch or drum it; carried by n thrift 57, the latter mounted inbearings; 5S, secured to the elevntonboot. Suid shnft has o sprocketwheel or pulley 5f), which is engaged by zi elniin or belt Ud, thehitter also engaging with n. sprocket or pulley 6ft. on the oonnierehnftEll), whereby the winolrshzift is adopted to be driven Vby theeonnier-ehnft For power purpozsen.

in the embodiment of the invention represented by Figs. o and G theelevator-boot is pivotnily hnne' by o Cross-shaft (il ir benrings US,which are eeenred iirlnlylo the inclined t eine 11S; The eonneetionbetween the eleveioreboot sind. the pivotnl shaft is effeoied by meansoi brackets (iet, which are Secured firmly to the boot and :ire .fittedloosely on the pivotal ein-ift til, but it is evidentthnt thearrangement oli the brackets, the shaft, and the bearings therefor nreybe reversed. The drivi11gslnri't for the. endless elevntor ie beltedy orgenred directly 'to the shaft which is driven by the 1notivo-powermeehziniein, sind this direct; goor eonnoetion may be elleoted by enendless ehnin or belt (l5, which ie fitted to :dined sprocket wheels orpulleys on the power mechanism und the elevator dri\'in -Shift. 'llle4eox'rstrnetion represented by Figs. 5 and il embodies essontinlly thesinne elementel disclosed by Figs. l. :ind 2, except thetrnnsmittingig'enring ond the means for pivotnlly suspending; theeleva.- tor-boot, nud seid `embodiment ol the invention muy also embracethe linnlnge wineh or drum7 will be readily understood.

ln operntion the elevator boot or easing is ndjneted to its uprightpositiomthe feeder is plneed in operative relntion to the foot of seideasing, sind the spout is arranged to deliver to :t ear or otherreceptacle. The treodmill` having been set lin motion, tlm` shalt l!!rog ICO tated and the motion thereof is transmitted by the gearconnections to the drivin g-shaft 27 of the elevator. The elevator' ispropelled to carry the grain from the foot of the boot and deliver thesame to the spout 52, by which the grain is conveyed lo the car orreceptacle. When it is desired to transport the apparatus or move itfrom one place to another, the cable of the tackle is nnfastened and theelevator-boot is allowed to swing or turn to the horizontal positionshown by dotted lines, thus folding the elevator upon the portable truckor frame.`

.The motive-power mechanism shown by Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings isadapted for operation by one horse; but it is evident that a two orthree horse treadmill maybe used, if desired.

The apparatus is also equipped with a pneumatic cleaner mechanism bywhich grain as it leaves the head of the elevator may have the dust,dirt, and light refuse eliminated therefrom. In this adaptation of theinvention a suction-fan 79 is employed on the upright elevator forconnection operatively with the head thereof, and said fan is adapted tobe driven by the. motive-power mechanism. The fan-casing SO is secu redto the elevator between thelegs of the boot or casin g and ad- Ajacentto the head, and in proper bearings on the fan-casing is journaled thefan-shaft 8l, one end of which is prolonged to receive a pulley 82,around which passes a belt S3, that is driven by a pulley S4., securedto one end of the idle shaft at the head of the elevator, whereby thefan-shaft is driven by the elevator. The casing of the fan is connectedby a suction tube or pipe with the head of the elevator-casing at apoint close to the attachment of the spout to said elevator-head, and asthe fan is rotated it creates a current of air through the elevator-headof snflicient strength to carry ott the dust, dirt, and light refusethrough the tube or pipe S5 to the fancasing, from which the refuse isdischarged through suitable ports.

Changes may be made in the forni and proportion of some of theparts,while theiressential features are retained and the spirit of theinvention embodied. Hence I do Ynot desire to be limited to the preciseform of all theA parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. A portablegrain-elevator comprising a Wheeled truck, a foldable conveyerl boot orcasing carried by said truck,v an endless conveyer within said boot orcasing, and afan or blower carried wholly by the conveyer-boot andfoldable-therewith, said fan or blower having a blast-pipe connectedwith the delivery end-of the conveyer-boot, and the' fanshaft geared toa conveyer-shaft to'be propelled thereby, substantially as described.

2. A portable grain-elevator comprising a wheeled truck, a foldableconveyer boot orv casing carried by said truck, an endless conveyerwithin sai'd boot or easing, a fan or blower carried wholly by andfoldable with the conveyer-boot at the upper end thereof and having saidfan-casing connected by a blast-pipe with the delivery end of theconveyer-boot, and multiplying-gearing between the fan-shaft and aconveyer-shaft whereby thefan or blower is driven from said conveyer,substantially as described.

A portable grain-elevator comprising a wheeled truck, an inclined frame,48, fixed to said truck, a con veyer boot or casing, pivoted at a pointintermediate of its length to and within said inclined frame, saidconveyerboot having its upper end foldable over and upon the wheeledtruck, and adapted to have its lower lend abut against the truck on theunfolding of the boot or casing toits upright position, a conveyerWithin said boot or casing, and a hoisting-tackle connected to the upperparts of the foldable conveyer-boot and the fixed frame, substantiallyas described.

4. A portable grain-loader comprising a wheeled truck, the rear end ofwhich is provided with a rigidA frame, perforated braces secured to theframe, a tubular shaft through said perforations, a yoke secured to theshaft with the ends of its arms adjacent to the braces, a sleeve uponthe tube, means for clamping said sleeve, yoke arms and braces rigidlytogether, an elevator secured within the yoke, and a shaft through thetubular shaft, the ends of which are provided with means for operatingthe vconveyer of the elevator.

5. A portable grain-loader comprising a wheeled truck carrying amotive-power mechanism, an upright frame xed to one end of said truck, afoldable elevator boot or easing IOO adapted to be folded to aninoperative position over the truck orto assume an upright operativeposition at one end thereof, a-tubu lar shaft fast with said frame, ayoke embracing the boot or easing and fitted on said IIO tubular shaft,a sleeve also fitted on the tnbular shaft and engaging the ends of saidyoke, an elevator within the boot or casing, a counter-shaft passingthrough the tubular shaft, and suitable gearing, substantially asdescribed.

G. A portable grain-loader comprising a wheeled truck carrying amotive-power mechanism, an upright frame situated at one end 0f andsecured firmly to said truck, brackets fast with said frame, an-elevatorboot or casing lltted between the brackets, a tubular shaft having thethreaded ends clamped in said brackets, a yoke embracing the boot orcasing and litted loosely on the tubular shaft, a counter-shaft passingthrough the tubular shaft, an elevator, and suitable gearing,substantiallyas described.

7. A portable grain-loader comprising a wheeled truck having amotive-power mech- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereto axed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

f HENRY H. CARR.

Witnesses:

RALPH A. SCHUSTER,

anislman elevator boot or easing foldable on y said truck, a shaft, 30,geared to the motivepower mechanism and to an elevator Wlthin said boot;or casing, 'and a Winch or drum 5 journaledon the booto casing to befoldable therewith and geared to the shaft, 38, tobe driven thereby,substantial-ly as described. ARTHUR J. FLYNN.

